ROUTE UPDATES: February 2021 - Part 4 - American Airlines, Level, Swiss, Air Europa

Route Updates - February 2021 - Part 4

The Argentine Government's ANAC national aviation authority issued an order on 26Jan21 requiring airlines to reduce the number of flights from Argentina to Europe, Mexico and the United States by 30% and to Brazil by 50%, effective 01Feb21.

Airline                      Origin                             Destination                      Eff Date     Type          Frequency   

American                 Dallas - Ft. Worth            Buenos Aires                    01Feb21     787-9        3x/weekly

Airlines                    (DFW)                              Ezeiza (EZE)
*Remarks: Reduced frequency from 7x/weekly to 3x/weekly, still using 787-9.

Level                        Barcelona (BCN)             Buenos Aires                    02Feb21     A330-200  2x/weekly

                                                                          Ezeiza (EZE)

* Remarks: Reduced frequency from 3x/weekly to 2x/weekly, still using A330-200.

Swiss                       Zurich (ZRH)                    Buenos Aires                    05Feb21    777-300     1x/weekly

                                                                          Ezeiza (EZE)

*Remarks: Resumed passenger flights using 777-300 1x/weekly.   

Air Europa               Madrid (MAD)                  Buenos Aires                    08Feb21    787-9         2x/weekly

                                                                          Ezeiza (EZE)

* Remarks: Reduced frequency from 3x/weekly to 2x/weekly, still using 787-9.

American                  Miami (MIA)                     Buenos Aires                   12Feb21    777-300     1x/daily

Airlines                                                              Ezeiza (EZE)

* Remarks: Upguaged equipment from 777-200 to 777-300 on their 1x/daily flight on this route.  

Sources:

www.aviacionline.com

www.sirchandler.com

www.aviacionnews.com

ROUTE UPDATES: Aerolineas Argentinas Route Changes - Pursuit of Profitability & Direct Domestic Connections - Part 1

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Caracas (CCS) - eff 28Jul17 - Route Cancelled

Aerolineas Airbus A330-200, LV-FNK (c/n 358), operated the carrier's last service to Caracas (CCS) on 28Jul17, flying the return sector on 29Jul17.  Like many other airlines, Aerolineas has suspended service indefinitely to the Venezuelan capital due to political unrest in the country and the retention by the self-proclaimed Bolivaran government of hard-currency ticket sales that collectively have cost foreign carriers several billions (thousand millions) of lost USD revenue in the last few years.     

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Bogota (BOG) - eff 09Aug17 - increase from 4x to 5x/weekly but back to 4x !

The suspension of the 1x/weekly service to Caracas freed up an A330 to be deployed on the EZE-BOG route allowing for one additional weekly flight on the sector.  However, it was announced in February that this route would go back to 4x/weekly.   

* Cordoba (COR) - Posadas (PSS) - eff 26Dec17 - 3x/weekly

Flights operated by Austral E190's.  Posadas (PSS) is the 15th destination operated year-round by the Aerolineas Argentinas / Austral group from its Cordaba (COR) hub, and the 16th when counting Mar del Plata (MDQ), which is served on a seasonal summer basis. 

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Barcelona (BCN) - eff 01Feb18 - Route Cancelled

The cancellation of this service was controversial as it was, according to Aerolineas Argentinas' president Mario Dell' Acqua, due to the weak financial performance of the route (presumably in the face of competition from new LCC Level on the route) and also the "lack of cooperation" from the carrier's labor unions that "aggravated" the situation.

* Bahia Blanca (BHI) - Neuquen (NQN) - eff 05Mar18 - 4x/weekly

Flights to be operated by Austral E190's.  This route was already operated in September and December 2017.  The airline has established a pattern where it will be operated most months of the year but will be replaced by Bahia Blanca (BHI) to Bariloche (BRC) during the summer and winter months (Bariloche is a lake and mountain resort).  

With this flight, Bahia Blanca (BHI) now has nonstop service to seven Argentine airports; Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) and Ezeiza (EZE), Comodoro Rivadavia (CRD), Mar del Plata (MDQ), Neuquen (NQN), Trelew (REL) and Ushuaia (USH) with Cordoba (COR) to be added in April.   

Neuquen (NQN) now has nonstop flights to Bahia Blanca (BHI), Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP), Comodoro Rivadavia (CRD), Cordoba (COR) and Mendoza (MDZ). 

Aerolineas Argentinas / Austral continues to implement the Argentine national government's air transportation policy of connecting "internal" cities directly with each other without having to connect through Buenos Aires.    

* Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Parana (PRA) - eff 06Mar18 - increase from 6x to 11x/weekly

All 11 flights operated by Austral E190's. 

* Jujuy (JUJ) - Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) - eff 24Mar18 - 30Jun18 - 1x/weekly

This flight was operated for a tour operator during the 2018 summer season and is now being flown again, at least until 30Jun18, with seats being sold directly to the general public.  The main purpose of the route is to promote inbound tourism to the high mountain desert region of northwest Argentina.  Flights operated by Aerolineas Argentinas 737-800's. 

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Porto Alegre (POA) - eff 03Apr18 - increase from 7x to 14x/weekly

Additional flights to be operated by Austral E190's complementing the existing 737-800 flights that depart EZE but return to Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP).

Sources:

https://aviacionline.com/2017/10/aerolineas-argentinas-suma-un-nuevo-vuelo-a-bogota-y-abandona-definitivamente-caracas/

https://aviacionline.com/2017/11/aerolineas-argentinas-confirma-a-posadas-como-nuevo-destino-del-hub-cordoba/

https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/275981/aerolineas-argentinas-ends-barcelona-service-in-jan-2018/ via Eric Trum

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2017/avn171130/avn-171130.html

https://aviacionline.com/2018/02/aerolineas-argentinas-reanuda-sus-vuelos-entre-neuquen-y-bahia-blanca/

https://aviacionline.com/2018/03/aerolineas-argentinas-ya-opera-11-vuelos-semanales-entre-parana-y-buenos-aires/

https://aviacionline.com/2018/03/aerolineas-argentinas-extiende-y-abre-la-comercializacion-de-sus-vuelos-entre-jujuy-y-san-pablo/

https://aviacionline.com/2018/03/aerolineas-argentinas-duplica-sus-vuelos-entre-buenos-aires-y-porto-alegre/

Aerolineas Argentinas to make decision on replacement of A330 long-range fleet by end of 2018

Aerolineas Argentinas A330-200, LV-FVH (c/n 1605), Aerolineas' first factory-delivered and owned aircraft taxiing at a European airport.  (Phil Perry Collection)

Aerolineas Argentinas will reportedly make a decision on the replacement of its intercontinental jet fleet by the end of 2018.

Aerolineas Argentinas - Intercontinental Flights - First Decades

Aerolineas Argentinas has flown several types of long-range jet aircraft from  Argentina to Europe and North America since it first introduced the de Havilland Comet 4 into service in 1959.  Since then the Boeing 707, 747-200, 747SP, 747-400 and Airbus A310 have all flown long-range services for Aerolineas with even some smaller regional types, such as the 727-200 being pressed into service occasionally on multi-stop runs from Argentina to Miami, for example.

After the 747-400 was retired from active Aerolineas service on 01Feb12, the airline remained with an exclusive Airbus fleet for its intercontinental scheduled flights.  Aerolineas has operated a total of 13 different A340 series aircraft, including three A340-200's and ten A340-300's, two of which remain in service plus 10 A330-200's, all of which are currently flying for the carrier.

Airbus A340-300

The two remaining A340-300's, LV-FPU (c/n 170) and LV-FPV (c/n 193), the latter painted in Skyteam colors, will soldier on until 2019 or even 2020, presumably flying mostly the Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Madrid (MAD) route as they do now.

Airbus A330-200

Aerolineas Argentinas started taking delivery of the backbone of its current intercontinental fleet, the A330-200, in 2013 with three examples joining the fleet that year, one in 2014, two in 2015, three in 2016 and the final A330-200 being acquired in early 2017 for a total of 10 of the type.     

Two of these aircraft, LV-FNI (c/n 290) and LV-FNJ (c/n 300), were delivered to SABENA with both going on to also fly for VG Airlines and Malaysia Airlines before joining Aerolineas. 

Another two A330-200's, LV-FNK (c/n 358) and LV-FNL (c/n 364), were delivered to Air Afrique and proceeded to serve an identical sequence of operators; Calliope, Eurofly, Atlas Jet, Saudi Arabian, and Atlas Jet again before going on to Aerolineas.

Yet another pair of A330-200's had identical service histories before joining Aerolineas, LV-GKO (c/n 587) and LV-GKP (c/n 634), which were delivered to EVA Airways prior to going to Argentina.

Finally, Aerolineas Argentinas bought four factory-new A330-200's directly from Airbus in February 2013, with the first example, LV-FVH (c/n 1605), being delivered on 28Feb15 followed by LV-FVI (c/n 1623) on 30Apr15, LV-GHQ (c/n 1737) on 05Aug16 and LV-GIF (c/n 1748) on 02Nov16.

Aerolineas deploys its A330-200 fleet on its intercontinental network radiating out from Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Miami (MIA), New York Kennedy (JFK), Cancun (CUN), Punta Cana (PUJ), Rome-Fiumicino (FCO), and Madrid (MAD) 2x/weekly with the other 5 days being operated by A340-300's.  The carrier  flew to Barcelona (BCN) until recently too.   

Recent European Route Changes

Aerolineas dropped Barcelona (BCN) because it was unprofitable, especially in the face of competition from Level, an LCC belonging to the IAG Group, but it plans to restart service to the Catalan city when it has more efficient lower-cost aircraft in its fleet that will make the airline more competitive on the route.  

The Rome-Fiumicino (FCO) route was also a money-loser but it apparently became a much more attractive product when Aerolineas added frequencies to make it a daily service because the route is now profitable. 
   
A330-200 Replacement

Aerolineas will reportedly start retiring its A330-200's after it has completed replacing Austral's E190 fleet, probably in 2021 or soon thereafter.  

The leading candidate aircraft include the 777, 787, and A350 with no further indication thus far of which models of each type might be under consideration. 

Sources:

https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/135154/aerolineas-argentinas-phasing-out-boeing-747-service-from-feb-2012/
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Aerolineas-Argentinas/Boeing-747-475/2069985
https://worldairlinenews.com/2015/03/03/aerolineas-argentinas-takes-delivery-of-the-first-direct-delivery-airbus-a330-200/
https://www.lanacion.com.ar/2088845-aerolineas-licitara-la-renovacion-de-su-flota-embraer-al-inicio-de-2018
https://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2017/12/adeus-embraer-adieux-airbusaures.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2018/avn180215/avn-180215.html
http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Aerolineas%20Argentinas.htm

ROUTE UPDATES: Amaszonas Uruguay, Sky Airline, Level and Azul

* Cordoba (COR) - Montevideo (MVD) - eff 24Aug17

To be operated 3x/weekly with CRJ-200's.  This will represent the return of non-stop service between the Argentine and Uruguayan cities for the first time since PLUNA closed down in July 2012.  

The planned addition of a third CRJ-200 to the Amaszonas Uruguay fleet, joining CX-SDU (c/n 7209) and CX-LVA (c/n 7561), will make possible both this new service and another daily frequency on the Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Montevideo (MVD) route for a total of 4x/daily weekday services on the "Air Bridge" between these two cities.

* Rosario (ROS) - Santiago (SCL) - eff 03Oct17

To be operated 3x/weekly with A319's.  Rosario will be the Chilean LCC's fourth destination in Argentina joining Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE), Cordoba (COR) and Mendoza (MDZ).  

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Barcelona (BCN) - Frequency Increase - eff 29Oct17

The recently started route by new Iberia low-cost (LCC) affiliate Level will increase from 3x/weekly to 5x/weekly flights using A330-200's on 29Oct17.

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Navegantes (NVT) - eff 11Dec17 

To be operated 1x/daily with E195's. 

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Cabo Frio (CFB) - eff 16Dec17 - 03Mar18 (seasonal) 

To be operated 1x/weekly with E195's.

Sources:

http://aeropuertocordoba.blogspot.com.ar/2017/07/desde-el-24-de-agosto-amaszonas-uruguay.html
http://www.aviacionline.com/2017/07/amaszonas-uruguay-suma-una-cuarta-frecuencia-diaria-a-buenos-aires/
http://www.aviacionline.com/2017/07/sky-volara-a-rosario-desde-octubre/
http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/273921/level-expands-argentina-service-in-nw17/ via Eric Trum
http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/273961/azul-increases-buenos-aires-routes-from-dec-2017/  via Eric Trum

ROUTE UPDATES: Aerolineas Argentinas - Rio Cuarto (RCU), Barcelona (BCN), Rome Fiumicino (FCO) & "Corredor Atlantico"

* Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Rio Cuarto (RCU) - eff 03Apr17 

This service, which is currently operated by Austral using E190's on a Cordoba (COR) - Rio Cuarto (RCU) - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) basis with 1x/daily round-trip will see the Cordoba (COR) legs dropped and will instead be operated 2x/daily from AEP to RCU round-trip, still by Austral E190's. 

* "Corredor Atlantico" - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Mar del Plata (MDQ) - Bahia Blanca (BHI) - Trelew (REL) - Comodoro Rivadavia (CRD) - Ushuaia (USH) - eff 03Apr17

Operated by Austral E190's, presumably 1x/daily.  This flight will depart EZE at mid-morning to allow connections from intercontinental flights to points along the east coast of Argentina all the way south to Ushuaia (USH).  

This concept is similar to the other three "corredor" multi-leg routes that Aerolineas operates connecting "interior" cities of the country; the "Sur", "Norte", and "Petrolero" with the latter connecting points related to the Argentine oil industry. 

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Rome Fiumicino (FCO) - increased frequencies & aircraft change

Effective 02May17, 5th weekly flight
Effective 04Jun17, 6th weekly flight
Effective 06Jul17, 7th weekly flight

Aircraft type is changing from A340 to A330 on 01May17.

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Barcelona (BCN) - increased frequencies & aircraft change

Effective sometime during the northern summer season, increase from 4x/weekly to 5x/weekly, and change aircraft type from A340 to A330 in May.  

Sources:

http://www.puntal.com.ar/noticia.php?id=234636
http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/271273/aerolineas-argentinas-further-expands-rome-service-in-ns17/ via Eric Trum
http://www.lavoz.com.ar/negocios/ahora-si-aerolineas-pone-en-marcha-un-centro-distribuidor-de-vuelos-desde-cordoba
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2017/avn170316/avn-170316.html

NEW AIRLINE PLANS: New Spanish LCC named "Level" to fly from Barcelona (BCN) to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) in June

An A330-200 in the colors of new Spanish LCC Level. (Artist's Image)

The International Airlines Group (IAG), owner of British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus and Vueling, is planning to start a new intercontinental Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) named Level starting operations in June with A330-200's.  The new airline will be based in Barcelona (BCN) with initial flights to Los Angeles (LAX), Oakland (OAK) (near San Francisco), Punta Cana (PUJ), and Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) starting in June 2017.

Flights to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) will start on 17Jun17 operating 3x/weekly.

The new carrier's website is www.flylevel.com

Source:

http://www.sirchandler.com.ar/2017/03/level-nombre-la-low-cost-iberia-arranca-junio-volar-barcelona-buenos-aires/

ROUTE UPDATES: Aerolineas Argentinas & Austral - Part 1 - BUENOS AIRES EZEIZA (EZE) & AEROPARQUE (AEP)

Specific routes that have been or will be added / increased by Aerolineas Argentinas and Austral in the coming months out of Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) and Aeroparque (AEP).

Caribbean & USA:

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Cancun (CUN) - eff 01Jul16

4x/weekly using A340-300's nonstop instead of 737-800's with a fuel stop in Caracas (CCS) like previously. 

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Miami (MIA) - eff 02Jul16

Adding 2x/weekly operated by A340-300's for a total of 16x/weekly.  Other 14 services flown by A330's.

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Punta Cana (PUJ) - eff 01Jul16

3x/weekly using A340-300's nonstop instead of 737-800's with a fuel stop in Caracas (CCS) like previously.  

Europe:

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Barcelona (BCN) - eff 01Jul16 (?)

Adding 1x/weekly for a total of 5x/weekly.  
   

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Rome Fiumicino (FCO) - eff 13Jun16

Adding 1x/weekly for a total of 4x/weekly operated with A340-300's.  

Argentina Domestic:

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Salta (SLA) - eff 01Jul16

1x/daily operated by Austral with E190's

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Ushuaia (USH) - eff Date ? 

1x/daily using Aerolineas A330's 

Note that Aerolineas flights from Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Mexico City (MEX), Quito (UIO) and Guayaquil (GYE) that were supposed to be added apparently never started.   

2016 Seasonal Summer Services - (now concluded)

According to the Telam press release dated 12Nov15 the following 2016 seasonal summer services were scheduled:  

* Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Belo Horizonte (CNF)

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Florianopolis (FLN) - 3x/daily

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Porto Seguro (BPS) - 3x/weekly

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Salvador de Bahia (SSA) - 1x/daily

* Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Punta del Este (PDP) 

3x/daily December, 5x/daily January, 4x/daily February using Austral E190's (?) 

Service Terminations:

* Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Brasilia (BSB)

Switched over from EZE to AEP but apparently since discontinued.

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Havana (HAV) - eff 31Jul16 discontinued

2x/weekly using 737-800's with a fuel stop in (CCS) will be discontinued. 

Sources:

http://www.aerolineas.com.ar
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn160505/avn-160505.html
http://airlineroute.net/2016/05/03/ar-fco-s16/ via Eric Trum
http://airlineroute.net/2016/04/29/ar-hav-jul16/ via Eric Trum
http://airlineroute.net/2016/04/28/ar-mia-jun16/ via Eric Trum
http://cabeceranorte.blogspot.com.ar/2016/04/novedades-comerciales-en-aerolineas.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn160107/avn-160107.html
http://airlineroute.net/2015/12/18/ar-cormdq-jan16/ via Eric Trum
http://www.telam.com.ar/notas/201511/126912-aerolineas-argentinas-plan-operativo-2016.html http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2015/avn151029/avn-151029.html

ROUTE UPDATE: Four of Aerolineas Argentinas' scheduled European Flights to make stop in London-Heathrow (LHR) in September

Four of Aerolineas Argentinas' scheduled flights to Barcelona (BCN) & Rome - Fiumucino (FCO) will make a stop in London-Heathrow (LHR) in September taking fans to the 2015 Rugby World Cup, which Argentina will be participating in.  

Aerolineas' normal Buenos Aires - Barcelona round-trip flights will operate on a "triangle" basis with a stop in London on 18/19Sep15: 

Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - London-Heathrow (LHR) - Barcelona (BCN) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE).

A similar routing will be followed on 25/26Sep15 but stopping in London after Barcelona: 

Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Barcelona (BCN) - London-Heathrow (LHR) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE).

A similar concept will be implemented in October towards the end of the competition adding London to the normal Rome route instead:

Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - London-Heathrow (LHR) - Rome-Fiumicino (FCO) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) on 09/11Oct15.

Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Rome-Fiumicino (FCO) - London-Heathrow (LHR) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) on 17/18Oct15.

All of the flights will be operated by Aerolineas Argentinas' A340-300's. 

Source:

http://airlineroute.net/2015/05/06/ar-lhr-sep15/ via Eric Trum

ROUTE UPDATES: Aerolineas Argentinas / Austral Announce Many New Routes & Service Changes for late 2013 / early 2014

Aerolineas Argentinas and sister carrier Austral Lineas Aereas have announced the addition of many new routes and changes to service as the combined carriers continue to take delivery of many aircraft to their fleets:

From Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE):

Ushuaia (USH):
Aerolineas Argentinas started operating its first A330-223, LV-FNI, to this city located in the southern province of Tierra del Fuego in late October despite a disagreement with its pilots over pay scales for the new type in the airline's fleet.

New York Kennedy (JFK):
Aerolineas Argentinas resuming service after five years' absence with daily A330-200's, effective 15Dec13 

Punta Cana (PUJ):
Aerolineas Argentinas 2x weekly (Tuesday & Saturday) summer charters with A340-300, effective 04Jan14-08Mar14

Miami (MIA):
Aerolineas Argentinas replacing A340-300's with A330-200's daily effective 01Mar14 going to 2x/daily, effective 01Apr14

Sydney (SYD):
Aerolineas Argentinas cancelling 3x/weekly A340-300 service, effective 02Apr14

Barcelona (BCN):
Aerolineas Argentinas increasing from 5x/weekly to daily with A340-300, effective 01Jul14

Rome (FCO):
Aerolineas Argentinas increasing from 4x/weekly to daily with A340-300, effective 01Jul14  

Lima (LIM):
Aerolineas Argentinas increasing from daily to 2x/daily with 737-800, effective 01Aug14

From Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP):

Curitiba, Brazil (CWB):
Austral daily with Embraer 190, effective 01Mar14

Formosa, Argentina (FMA):
Austral 2x/daily with Embraer 190, effective March 2014

Santa Cruz, Bolivia (VVI):
Aerolineas Argentinas daily with 737-700, effective 01Apr14

Sources:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2013/avn131226/avn-131226.html
http://airlineroute.net/2013/12/19/ar-mia-mar14update2/ via Eric Trum
http://airlineroute.net/2013/12/12/ar-vvi-s14/ via Eric Trum
http://airlineroute.net/2013/12/05/ar-lim-aug14/ via Eric Trum
http://airlineroute.net/2013/12/04/ar-europe-s14/ via Eric Trum
http://airlineroute.net/2013/11/28/ar-mia-mar14/ via Eric Trum
http://airlineroute.net/2013/11/11/ar-syd-s14cxld/ via Eric Trum
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2013/avn131031/avn-131031.html
http://airlineroute.net/2013/09/27/ar-mia-jan14/ via Eric Trum
http://airlineroute.net/2013/09/27/ar-cwb-mar14/ via Eric Trum
http://airlineroute.net/2013/09/24/ar-puj-jan14/ via Eric Trum